Everytime~ We go on vacation, we usually see shows from Regional Theaters. This year ~2008: We went to Atlanta, GA and San Francisco, CA. Of course, as a broadway enthusiast its A MUST that I visit their Regional Theaters:
and here's the TWO REGIONAL THEATERS that I visited in 2008.
1. Alliance Theater (Atlanta, GA)
2007 Recipient of Tony Awards for Best Regional Theater -Alliance Theater of Atlanta, GA. has premiered three broadway shows-The Color Purple, Aida & The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Now in its 39th season and the recipient of the 2007 Regional Theater Tony Award is considered the leading theater in the Southeast. Alliance Theater has almost 200,000 patrons and members.
-The Alliance Theater is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization commited to new work as demonstrated with the launch of the Kendeda Graduate Playwrtting Competition.
-The Alliance Theater is housed at The Woodruff Arts Center with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Theater next door.
LIST OF THEIR PRODUCTIONS THAT END-UP ON BROADWAY:
The Color Purple [Original, Musical, Drama]
World Premiere Produced by The Alliance Theatre Company
Dec 1, 2005 - Feb 24, 2008
Aida [Original, Musical, Drama]
Originally developed at The Alliance Theatre Company
Mar 23, 2000 - Sep 5, 2004
The Last Night of Ballyhoo [Original, Play, Comedy]
This play was commissioned for the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival by The Alliance Theatre Company
Feb 27, 1997 - Jun 28, 1998
So Long on Lonely Street [Original, Play, Comedy]
Produced by arrangement with The Alliance Theatre Company;
Originally presented by The Alliance Theatre Company
Apr 3, 1986 - May 18, 1986
****LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO won the Tony Awards for Best Play in 1997
note: my camera date stamp is wrong- its suppposed to be 1/17/
2008!
Alliance has two theaters in Woodruff Arts Center:
A. The Alliance Theater -with 800 seats
B. The Hertz Stage -with 200 seats
The Show that we saw at Alliance Theater:
2. America Conservatory Theater (San Francisco, CA)
1979 Recipient of Tony Awards for Best Regional Theater -was founded in 1965 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by theatre and opera director William Ball. By invitation from San Francisco philanthropists and officials, Ball relocated the company to San Francisco and astonished the theatre world by presenting twenty-seven fully staged productions in rotating repertory, in two different theatres, during the first 40-week season.
-A.C.T.'s original twenty-seven member acting company featured the talents of Rene Auberjonois, Peter Donat, Richard Dysart, Michael Learned, Ruth Kobart, Paul Shenar, Ken Ruta, Kitty Winn among many others. Ball's mid-1970s productions of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, starring Marc Singer, and Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, starring Peter Donat and Marsha Mason were televised by PBS and are available on video.
-In 2007, A.C.T. released a cast album of Perloff's production of the Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weil musical Happy End, produced and mixed by Lucas Arts studios. It includes the full score and is the first English language recording of this musical.
LIST OF THEIR PRODUCTIONS THAT END UP ON BROADWAY:
The Good Body [Original, Play, Solo]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Nov 15, 2004 - Dec 19, 2004
Wrong Mountain [Original, Play, Comedy]
Produced by American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Jan 13, 2000 - Feb 5, 2000
High Society [Original, Musical, Comedy]
Originally produced by American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Apr 27, 1998 - Aug 30, 1998
Golden Child [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Apr 2, 1998 - May 31, 1998
Seven Guitars [Original, Play, Drama]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Mar 28, 1996 - Sep 8, 1996
Diversions and Delights [Original, Play, Solo]
Originally presented by the American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
Apr 12, 1978 - Apr 22, 1978
-Two of its Productions was nominated at the TONY AWARDS:
1998 Tony Award® Best Play
Golden Child [nominee]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
1996 Tony Award® Best Play
Seven Guitars [nominee]
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco
THE AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER (Geary Theater)
The Play that we saw at ACT:
Interesting INFO about the Theater and ACT: ( I scanned this leaflet)
I am hoping to visit more REGIONAL THEATERS in the future. I am hoping to visit Steppenwolf in Chicago and Papermill in New Jersey next!
I love Regional Theaters! They are the backbone of Broadway and some of the great shows started there like this year's 2008 TONYS Best Play- A : OC!
Go see a show and SUPPORT your local regional theaters!
J*
Updated On: 8/7/08 at 12:26 PM